The Persistence of Rivers: An Essay on Moving Water

by Alison Townsend

Alison Townsend shapes the memories within this book like the meditative and meandering rivers that inspired them. The Persistence of Rivers evokes the naturalism of Thoreau and Dillard, yet Townsend's prose remains masterfully singular in its subject, lyricism, and poignancy. Spanning decades from the 1950s to the present, the book considers the impact of rivers at pivotal moments in the Townsend's life, examining issues of landscape, loss, memory, healing, and the search for home.

76 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2017

About the author

Alison Townsend teaches English, creative writing and women's studies at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. A walker, hiker, and gardener, she lives with her husband on four acres of prairie and oak savanna in the farm country outside Madison.

Reviews

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a lovely reminiscence of the power and influence of rivers she has lived, walked, played, and traveled by, Alison crafts a poetic memoir of life in nature. As with the best poetry, her words and images evoke memories of my own formative times by rivers and lakes and inspire my own creative exploration. I know this is a book I will revisit during my own travels.

Book Pairings:

Poems and essays by Mary Oliver (Upstream, for instance).
From the Forest by Sara Maitland.
Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country by Louise Erdrich.
Terry Tempest Williams.